EvacuSpot sculpture will be erected in Gentilly: Gentilly Warriors

With hurricane season upon us, evacuteer.org has unveiled 15 EvacuSpots sculptures and two banners at city-assisted evacuation pickup locations throughout New Orleans, including Gentilly.

If you do not have transportation if an evacuation is called, Gentilly residents need to go to the Evacu-Spot location in Gentilly, which is the bus stop at Press
and Chef Menteur Highway. Each person is only allowed to bring one
bag.

At the Edgewood Park neighborhood meeting, Sarah Babcock with the City’s Department of Emergency Preparedness updated neighbors on the city’s plans for hurricane season. She informed residents that there might be more mandatory evacuations now for lower level hurricanes because the level of the hurricane is set by wind speed. Babcock also provided everyone with a map showing Evacu-Spots.

For those able to evacuate on their own, she reminded residents to keep their vehicle's gas tank at least ½ full throughout the season, have cash on hand in small denominations, have a portable battery operated radio on hand, along with backup batteries.

Residents also should have an emergency supply kit that consists of one gallon of water for each person per day and three days of food, radio with batteries, flashlights, a first aid kit, sanitizers, medicines, and other necessary specific items for members of the family.

For sheltering in place, there will be a Medical Needs Shelter for those who have medical needs. There is a new Special Needs registry. If you have special needs you should call 311 to register or go to www.ready.nola.gov.

The City Assisted Evacuation Plan activates when a mandatory evacuation is called in New Orleans and is designed to move 25,000 to 30,000 New Orleanians without transportation. For more information and to get involved, please visit evacuteer.org.

It's a good time to check your insurance policy. Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has increased efficiency of claims filing, adjuster deployment and claims processing, in advance of the 2013 hurricane season.

The company established a claims reporting telephone number that will become active 24/7 during a catastrophic event. All new catastrophe claims can be reported anytime by calling 1.877.815.5005. After reporting a claim, policyholders will immediately receive a text or email message that will confirm their claim number and adjuster contact information.

Louisiana Citizens also restructured its claims operation by hiring additional internal claims adjusting staff and engaging Worley Catastrophe, one of the nation's top catastrophe response firms with the ability to handle more than 50,000 claims.

Pontchartrain Park celebration

Actor Wendall Pierce and the Pontchartrain Park Neighborhood Association will hold a five-year anniversary celebration July 4 from 3 to 9 p.m. at Pontchartrain Park Playground at Press and Prentiss drives.

A fireworks show, barbecue, family games and a talent show, "Pontchartrain Park Idol," will be featured. Over the past give years, Pontchartrain Park has made great progress, said Gretchen Bradford, who is helping to organize the event. The Joseph Bartholomew golf course and Wesley Barrow Stadium are now open. Playgrounds are open; streets are being repaired; and new homes are being built.

Although great strides have been made, Pontchartrain Park is still rebuilding and on track to being a great resource and example for all neighborhoods in New Orleans and around the country, Bradford said.

For information on the event call Bradford at 504 813-4164.

New assistant principal

Benjamin Franklin High School recently announced that Donald Jackson is the new assistant principal.

Jackson has a certification from Xavier University as a Louisiana School Turnaround Specialist, and holds a master's in Educational Administration and a bachelor's in Secondary Math from UNO.

Rebuilding continues

Nearly 175 Microsoft TechEd North America 2013 Conference participants in town recently volunteered for several rebuilding and revitalization projects in the New Orleans area.

The TechEd volunteers worked in the Seabrook/Gentilly neighborhood. At Miltenberger Park, the group built three shade shelters, Installed picnic tables for shelters, painted and repaired the entire fence surrounding the park, installed a swing set, and framed a Habitat for Humanity house. At the Seabrook Hope Community Center, the group built and /stained a shade cover for the chapel deck built by the Microsoft Convergence volunteers, completed gates for new fencing built by volunteers, stained 2,000 feet of fencing, and completed a senior lounge including installation of donated computers.

At the Ernest Morial Convention Center, the group of volunteers packed 500 bags filled with school supplies for local children in need, created 600 snack packs for military troops overseas, and participated in an art project featuring the creation of an eight-panel New Orleans-themed mural.

The volunteer projects were coordinated by New Orleans-based Projects With Purpose, in conjunction with community partners, St. Paul’s Homecoming Center, Habitat for Humanity, and Seabrook Hope Community Center.

Arts camp

A Mardi Gras Indian arts camp will be held daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through July 26 at Xavier, 3520 Pine St.. Building 43. Children ages 11-14 may attend. The cost is $50. For information, call 504.520.6723.

Denise Walter McConduit write about the Gentilly neighborhoods, to send in information to the column email denise.mcconduit@gmail.com